Yes, in California and many other states truck drivers are not required to, and refused to, cover their loads. This often results in rocks and stones getting motorcyclists in the chest and face or on the face shield or the windshield. It is simply not safe in California to ride on the freeway without face protection of some sort. I'm all in favor of freedom and the right to choose, however I will never ride without a fullface helmet.

 

Its funny because on the way to work today I was putting along (at speed limit) in my electra glide, cool morning, beautiful scenery. Next thing you know this sport bike comes zoomin up on me, and passes me in a no pass zone. ironically there was traffic ahead and by the time we got to the light we got there together. I wondered why he wanted to zoom through all of that beautiful scenery while im jammin some zeppelin leaning back cruising.

I had a half helmet he had a full face and had full leather on matching his bike. I had boots Jeans and a mesh riders jacket.

At the green, he split cars in front of him and lane changed 3-4 times passing cars. Just in time for another light to turn red, I got to the light and it just turned green so I actually pass this *** hat.

i thought of the turtle and the rabbit (bugs Bunny episode).

Im 46, I want to enjoy every tree, breathe every fresh air and I leave 20 minutes early so I can take the long way to work.

I was young once and I craved speed and tricks and attention, now I just wanna enjoy.

"Youth is wasted on the Young"

 

It's part of the culture, both sides. I know the senior police motor officer instructor for the state. He's heavily involved, so surprise, in motorcycle crash statistics analysis. He said that wearing full gear is part of the sport bike culture, just like wearing no gear is part of the Harley culture. It's certainly not rare to see sport bike riders in full race leathers. Both sides say they've made their choices because of the same reason: "I accept the risks". I think riders who refuse to wear gear have not "accepted" the risks, they're in denial of the risks. Imo. And, even worse, they make disparaging comments about sport bike riders in their "Power Ranger" outfits. The motor officer said that's the reason that sport bike riders suffer fewer serious injuries and deaths by number of crashes compared to cruiser/touring bike riders.

Well, to be fair, when the OP asks a question about wearing gear, and the responses answer the question about wearing gear, then the responses aren't "lectures" about wearing gear, they're "answers".

Agreed. We've all heard the cliche: "Live for the ride, dress for the crash". Nobody intends to crash, yet, somehow, we still do. While nothing, nothing, guarantees you'll survive every crash, might as well do your best to increase your chances of being able to get up and walk away.

 

Sport bike riders tend to "push" their bikes harder than Harley riders do. Many if not most Harley riders never hit 100 MPH, while a sport bike rider might hit 100 a few times during an afternoon ride; they also corner a lot harder and faster.
I like the trend of Harley riders wearing good gear, and backing away from the outlaw look.

 

Ok lecture my not be appropriate. But preaching about it is just the same.

 

This. And they tend to do wheelies everywhere, wearing out 5 rear tires to one front tire. So it's more of a safety feature, than a fashion statement.

 

I am with CyGlide on this. When I rode sport bikes, I was pretty sure I was going to crash because I was very much pushing the limits of the bike every chance I had. I just don't do anything near that on my Harley.

What is probably somewhat unusual is I *was* involved in what could have been a very serious wreck on a sport bike. I was doing well over 100 mph, and I walked away with a few minor injuries because I was wearing a FF helmet and all the gear. In spite of that, I am still OK with getting on my Harley in a T-shirt, jeans and boots. I do that because I enjoy riding that way, experience all of being in the wind.

I don't preach either way. Everyone rides their own ride.

 

I think if a decent ff helmet was made for hot weather more of us would wear a helmet. Technology today can make anything so why is the only ventilation a quarter inch hole in the back of the helmet. Another is the speakers that are used in the helmet why are the so poor. If the rules need to change for the dot helmet then we need change them.

 

No, this is just like every other helmet thread on this forum. It's the same thing over and over: "why doesn't everybody wear a full face helmet like me?"

 

This one gets good reviews:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/shoei-gt-air-helmet